The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-10-22
MY SUMMERS FILTRATION.

am only school-teacher and
naturally not in particularly afllu-
ent circumstances, but 1 believe l
am rather very good-looking and
know how to dress, even if / can't
afford expensive gowns.
At the queer little town of Thorn
apple, where l was spending the
summer, the local bellies were inclin-
ed to look down upon me. One
day I overheard small coterie of
village beauties discussing me as
"Poor little Net Howard" and then
launch forth some uncomplimentary
remarks regarding me. From that
time forth l resolved to let those
girls know that l was not going to
be snubbed. So put forth every
effort to engage the attention
of every young man they took a
fancy to, for my blood was up
To the disgust Of all the aforesaid
young ladies in the place, when
young Mr. Romer, the California
millionaire, appeared and they be-
gan to lay snaree for him, that indie
pendent young man began at once
to pay very marked attention to me.
You see, l acted very cool toward
him, and, not being used to such
treatment, I suppose, it took with
his lorlsllp.
We 'yere out in The garden sing
ing one night, and I felt SO tired
that I Slipped away 20 the bach pa
lor, where was eventually follow
ed by young Romer.
Net, he asked, have ] done any
thing to offend YOU
Oh, no, Mr.. Romer, said I, flip
But things will go wrong
with me occasionally. l feel savage.
am sorry to have made a victim Of
you.
You knew very we'll Net, that
you may make anything you please
Of me, said Mr.. Romer. in tone
that struck me rs ominous. He
was the lust person in the world
with whom / wanted q scene. 7
YVES too much afraid Of him I lost
my sclfpossession 7 tremhled ; I
was making an awkward movement
to escape from the room but Mr..
Romer interpysed with an air Of au-
thority that did not tend to rcassure
me.
Net, have something to say to
you VIII you stop and listen ?
I can't, I can't, Mr.. Romer-I
don't want to listen Somebody is
calling me in the garden,
Nobody is calling you. What do
you mean ? Net, Net, have you
been trying to drive me distracted
this evening? You can't care for
that puppy of a doctor, with his
poetry-it's impossible. And I real
ly think you have given me the
right to ask whether you care for
me. You must tell mel will not
be triAed with. 1 have made no
secret of loving you-everybody
knows it-you know it. Do you in
tend to be my wife Or not d?
Up from the garden tinkled the
sound of Flora Aliens laugh. The
whole brood Of poisonous feelings
started up within me, like wakening
serpents. What | Was l a Flora
Allen, to whom the offered hand of
millionaire was irresistible ?
Oh, Mr.. Romer, 1 am so sorry.
It's impossible, l cried.
We stood silently opposite each
other for a moment in the moon
light; l thought my heart was beat
ing audibly. At last;
You have treated me shamefully,
Net Howard, said Mr.. Romer, stern
ly. God forgive you l hope women
are not all alike.
Then he went out of the room.
With those reproachful words ring
ing in my ears, stood still, on the
spot where he had left me, and tried
hopelessly to think. What had l
done?
1t was long after midnight before
1 crept, chilled and shivering to bed.
All the next day remained in my